Files only visible from their directory

Question

I'm running a build command that refers to library files three directories up using the -I option. The path to the directory from which I'm calling GCC is /home/user/a/b/c/d/a1/a2/test while the libraries are in /home/user/a/b/c/d.

However, the strange thing is that I'm unable to access or even see the files unless I cd to their folder. If I run ls ../../../ from the test folder, then those files do not appear at all. They are actual files and not symbolic links. I've even run chmod o+x on them to be sure.

Anyone know what's going on?

Answer 1

I've finally found the cause of the problem. It turns out one of the directories was actually a symbolic link to another directory. So ls was acting on the target directory and not the directory containing the symbolic link. Using the absolute path resolved the issue.